The North Bethlehem Chill Factors.

There’s a chill in the air, and it’s not from the Arctic front that brought sub zero temps to the area. Nope. In fact, this chill just might melt ice cream, Stewart’s Ice Cream, to be exact.

According to Spotlight Newspapers, Russell Road Partners, a developer, has submitted to the Bethlehem Planning Board, a proposal to construct 44 condos along Russell Road in North Bethlehem, with a Saratoga Springs based Stewart’s Shop on the corner of Russell and Krumkill Roads.

While many North Bethlehem residents are cool to the prospect of the condos, they really want to put the ice cream/gas station facility on ice, thick, cold ice.

90 Responses

Why do just Bethlehem residents get to sign the petition? The store is barely within their limits. It’s in the Guilderland school district and more guilderland residents drive through that area than Bethlehem ones. I live about a mile or so from the proposed area (in Guilderland) and while I understand the adjacent resident’s concerns, I think it would be a great addition to the area. I’m not so keen on the gas station part though. It would be convenient but I think a nice looking ‘corner store’ would be useful there, especially with the addition of the sidealks near there a couple years ago.

I don’t have your answer, store. Perhaps, it’s because it’s proposed in the town of Bethlehem. Here’s an excert from The Spotlight’s article ‘…The petition asks that only Bethlehem residents sign. Lewis said the company wants to show town officials there is support for the project among those who drive by the location.’

Store – all politics are local. This property is within the political boundaries of the Town of Bethlehem, and thus is a Town of Bethlehem issue. If Stewarts presents a petition filled with signatures of non-constituents, it won’t be very meaningful to Town of Bethlehem elected officials and their appointees.

As far as the outlook of the community, I believe most of the attendees at the first public meeting were mostly indifferent to the proposed condo, except for the 5 property owners whose properties would be adjoining that property. It would simply be more residential development in an area that is understandably being developed all along Krumkill and Russell.

The Stewarts, on the other hand, was seen as a risk to the residential tranquility of the area, and the majority of people who felt compelled to comment were against that portion. The property owners who are adjacent to the proposed location are understandably upset at a prospective business operating from 5 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week. If you’ve ever lived near a convenience store, you’ll understand the amount of litter these sorts of businesses generate, mostly due to uncaring customers who simply drop all the wrappings of whatever they’ve purchased on the ground. Add in the additional traffic and activity involved with a business such as this, and it becomes a nuisance.

I’m not in favor of it due to the anticipated extra traffic it will generate at the intersection of Krumkill and Russell. There are plenty of stores of this nature within an easy 3-5 minute drive of that area, specifically in the University Plaza area on Western Ave, so why shoehorn a store in a residential area? Yes, it’ll be convenient to walk to it, but I don’t think that outweighs the inconvenience to the neighbors and the surrounding area. We’ve lived here for 13 years and have made out fine, and we can continue to do so without it.

Rumored around the neighborhood: un-officially the word from the town is Stewart’s at Blessings Corners is a done deal. Hard to believe town officials would be bold enough to think they know what their constiutents want without even talking to them. Better yet, they think they don’t have to. They wrap themselves in the “we know what’s best” decision making attitude.
What is the DEC (Development of Economic Commerce)getting from this besides a commercial tax base which will have no impact on residential property owners? Is it coincidence one of Bethlehem’s DEC’s members was influential in having the Stewarts built on the corner of Russell Road and Western Avenue while employed by the City of Albany, as they are so proud to tell you? Why are they trying to sell us on a matter they should be impartial on?
What did Stewarts promise our town or it’s board memebers? Is it really only 1,000 feet or so of free sidewalks that hardly anyone will use and the town will have to maintain? Who will pay for the snow plowing in the winter? Who is responsible for repair or replacement? Do you really think locals will WALK ten minutes to a closer store, when they can drive to it in three minutes? After all, there are two exisitng Stewarts within three miles or a ten minute drive for those people and that is too far now. If you want to live that close to a store move to the city. I hear Mayor Jennings is anxious to have you.
While the rural setting continues to fade, self gratification, self-satisfaction and enviromental indifference flourishes.
Lest we forget the potential of free Stewarts goods for Fire Department members. Where do I sign up? I love ice cream.
For the immature, narrow minded individual(s) who vandalized my signs three times and painted profanity on the back of one that only my family can see, it will give them someplace to hang out instead of on my propery, scaring my wife and daughter!
To them I say, signs are up again, I win!!!
Comment by Michael L. Zych — January 30th, 2010 @ 8:52 pm

Funny, there are already TWO Stewart’s within a two mile radius of the location where the chain and the town want to build the new one. The area up there is already busy enough with traffic — why make it even worse? And, the absolute LAST thing that area needs is a gas station. What’s next, a shopping mall or a Walmart?

Road improvements on Krumkill have made one significant change to the flow of traffic – by improving the line of sight and straightening the road it’s made it easier to go faster and in the process more dangerous. Adding another unneeded convenience store will not benefit the neighborhood and simply increase traffic flow adding to the danger for pedestrians and other runners and bike riders.

Old traffic studies ‘proved’ that the increased traffic with the condominiums would be minimal; however there are For Sale signs on several other properties being put up for sale in the area touting additional development of new homes? No one had considered these when the developers did their traffic study which will only increase the traffic back up on feeder roads around the area.

Whats wrong with adding the Stewarts? They are a great partner with the community, and the comfort and convenience can’t be beat. I doubt there would be additional traffic to go to a store in essentially a residential area – it’s not like North Bethlehem is anything but a conduit to get to Crossgates from Delmar anyway.

Looking at this on Google Maps, there is no way that any of these places are less than 2 miles away unless you happen to be a crow, and even then it’s probably just 2 miles. More likely 3-5 miles via roadway for each.

Please record “real” mileage from the spot to these places and then get back to us with a corrected post.

Places don’t stay rural forever, unless you happen to own all the property surrounding you. That road has been heavily used as a commuter by-way for over thirty years for people going to and from Delmar, Slingerlands, the Hilltowns etc. Do you want that to stop too now that you live there?

A little more commercial, office and industrial development might help lower our taxes somewhat. As #9 said, Stewarts is a good partner with a local stake.

This “corner store” that you think would be so nice to have is in fact a 2,900 square foot brick buildingwill have parking for 18 cars and gasoline pumps. The building alone is 3 times the size of MY house!! I honestly believe that it will be TOTALY out of place in this area no matter HOW MUCH landscaping will be done to “make it blend in with the neighborhood”. As others above point out, there are PLENTY of existing businesses that can support “your needs” without putting THIS in OUR area!

I have spoken at the last 2 Planning Board meetings to try to impress upon the Board members that there are allot of area residents that do not want this project to come into existence. The traffic concerns on Krumkill Road are valid. The people stopping and turning into and out of this store will make an already difficult commute for area residents even worse.

The present economy will not support the $250,000 each for the condos that are purposed. I would be VERY surprised if the condos get built within 5 years, if ever, of this project being accepted by the town. Just look at what has just happened in the Glens Falls area with “The Mill Condominiums” that were built for a “housing boom” that never materialized. For THAT kind of money, there are PLENTY of single family homes that can be purchased in our area that will not negatively impact our already overly stressed water and sewer systems.

I realize that the Russell Road Partners have already spent a pile of money and time coming up with this plan for the area. IF the Stewart’s Store gets squashed I KNOW that they will build SOMETHING on this plot of land, all we ask is to put something there that is in HARMONY with the surrounding area. This means single family residences and NOT a potently TOXIC Gas Station with the traffic headaches and other problems that seem to follow this type of endeavor!!

It would be one thing if there was nothing nearby Russell and Krumkill, but that simply is not factual. Rather, that local area is overrun with convenient store w/fuel opportunities no more than a couple of minutes away from the proposed location.

To top it off, there is a tranquil town pocket park only a couple of hundred yards away from the corner – wonder how quickly it will be before the park gets littered with trash and it becomes the local beerfest hangout after Stewart’s closes for the night? Is the town prepared to constantly patrol the park and to routinely clean it up, too? Geez, the town can’t even patrol the area enough to prevent vandalism to Mr. Zych’s signs as noted above, so I guess the answer to this rhetorical question is a ‘no”.

In addition to the safety concerns already mentioned, does the town REALLY want property owners in that affluent area to start moving out and/or protesting their assessments as values plummet? Either will result in an ultimate decrease to town coffers. In light of today’s fiscal climate and for the foreseeable future, this entire proposal doesn’t pass the smell test. As they say, “Follow the money.”

The planning board really needs to rethink their stance on this proposal and consider the long term impact rather than just the short term gain.

I am always amazed at the people who go on and on about needing to improve Bethlehem’s tax base. I would like to see what the help would actually look like in dollars.Adding commercial development is not necessarily a cash cow for the small towns. Sometimes these locations cost the tax payers more than is contributed to the town. I think people are tired of taxes, but start looking at what homeowners in other towns pay and you will realize Bethlehem is not necessarily out of line. While your are doing this, start thinking about all the wonderful services we have in this town and which one you would like to give up. Let’s see…beautiful park, award winning senior services, great library, leaf pick-up, etc., etc, etc. Before we sell or soul, maybe the grass isn’t always greener.

FYI folks, seeing it hasn’t been forthcoming… I just ran a distance line on my MS Streets and Trips 2007 program. The points @6 mentioned fall under the 2 mile mark. Yes, it’s a straight line “as the crow flys” line, measured from the jct of Krumkill & Russell. Less than a mile and a half to Western Ave. and/or the jct of New Scotland & Krumkill., and under 2 miles to the jct of 85 & 140. Even with the twist and turns, Hess & PC are so close to the 2 mile road miles, you’d need a tape measure.

Its the law of supply and demand, people. If nobody was going to use a Stewarts at that location, then they wouldn’t be building it. We’re not talking about putting a burlesque parlor in – its a Stewarts, for god sakes. It will create jobs, provide a service, and contribute to the tax base.

OK Freddie, here is the actual DRIVING distances over regular roads as per Mapquest.
1.76 miles to Campus Mobile 1667 Western Ave.
1.8 Miles to Stewart’s on Russell & Western
2.0 Miles to Mobile Station on Krumkill & New Scotland
2.07 Miles to Hess on New Scotland
2.23 miles to Price Chopper on New Scotland
2.35 miles to Stewart’s on New Scotland and Whitehall
2.43 miles to Mobile on the Run @ 1667 Western Ave ave.
2.6 miles to Sunoco Gas on Western & Homlestead
2.64 miles to Price Chopper on Western

These are based on a Mapquest search from 572 Russell Road, the property’s address.

Jim Martley

P.S. I fixed my email address. I typed it wrong on my first submission.

My wife and I built here over 25 years ago. We did so during a Bethlehem building moritorium. We were willing almost two years build to get approval. My wife and I moved here from Colonie because of it’s rural setting.
We never opposed the ARC, new New Vision School’s predecessor across the street, even though they and the town lied about hours of operation. We were told it would be a 9 am to 3 pm deal, no nights, no weekends. Those who live on Staffords Crossing, will tell you it is normal to hear deliveries and trash pick up starting at 4:30 am and maintenance staff leave after 11 pm..What’s Stewarts promising for hours of operation? Do you really think there won’t be customers sitting in their cars at 4:45 am waiting for them to open?
We never opposed Staffords Crossing, Googas Road, Indian Hills, Dutch Brook, Mosall’s Road, Brook Hill, Beverwyck or even the New Fire Department with it’s god forsaken siren that has out lived it’s usefulness.
Though we hated to see the corn fields dissappear, we knew other families would want to enjoy the country setting and the convienent proximity to almost everything.
Over time we made many new friends in those developments, some have moved on and some are still here. As a matter of fact we welcomed the first family, the Cavanugh’s, who move into Staffords Crossing with a fruit basket and were sad to see them move away.
Change is good, but any commercial development on THAT property just does fit nor make sense.
We may consider moving someday, but if Stewarts or any other business is built there, when we do decide to move, I will give serious thought to urging our immediate neighbors to do the same. Then we could submit to the town our properties to be rezoned for more commercial use. Maybe a strip mall. God knows how much we need a bank branch, a Dunkin Donuts and a liquor store.

2 Weekend Managers:
One working Saturday and Sunday 5 to 1pm
The other working Saturday and Sunday 1 to 10 pm
That’s assuming Stewarts doesn’t require their managers to work 6 days or longer than 8 hour shifts.

One Part time staff:
Monday thru Friday 6:00 am to 10:00 am
One Part time Staff:
Monday through Friday 4 pm to 9 pm

One Part time weekend staff:
Saturday & Sunday 7 am to 1 pm
One Part time weekend staff:
Saturday & Sunday 2 pm to 8 pm

That’s a total of 6 positions at best. So whose child doesn’t get to a job a t Stewarts?

You guys are arguing over a half mile or so. Driving that’s probably less then a couple minutes at best. Most certainly no one would walk it.
You’re missing the point, unless it’s closer to them, but right next to someone else, inconsiderate people will always want something closer. Their philosophy is; Isn’t that what neighbors are for?
Well maybe wouldn’t want the Albany City dump on Rapp Rd. or the trash compactor from Stewarts at Blessings Corners on a hot summer day.

Reading these comments, most of which appear to come from the neighborhood of the proposed Blessing Corners project, has been a delight for me. Here’s a group of people obviously with different views of the project. You’ve presented your views without bashing one another. It’s spirited, but civil(friendly). You’ve been discussing the issue, as it should be, not beating up on each other because you disagree. You seem to have reached that plateau of knowing how to agree to disagree, peaceably. Thank-you.

I know that Skywarner, Danes and Erin’s Dad frequent the Bethlehem Blog pages, as well as other blogs on the TU. I hope all you new readers continue to read the blogs, and especially the Bethlehem one, and comment ocassionally, too.

You almost sound disappointed that we are NOT “key-board commandos”! :o)
We put our REAL names on the words that we post because we are fighting for our homes and property. We are also smart enough to understand that there are others that see the situation differently than we do. All we are trying to do is to expose others to OUR side of the situation and hopefully get others to support our fight, and believe me it WILL be a fight!!!!
If the opposition does win, I can rest easy with the fact that myself and others did EVERYTHING we could and did not just rollover and let others have their way with us.

After all those nice things I just said, I’m going to beat up on Michael, but I’m going to give him a more than equal chance for revenge.

My brother-in-law walks from the N. Bridge Drive neighborhood to Western Ave to grab the bus to his job in downtown Albany. Sometimes, he even walks to the stores on Western Ave. But, like you say, he’s probably the exception.

Now, Michael, it’s your chance. Between 2000 and 2005, it may have been ME waking you and your neighbors up. On average of 2 or 3 times a month, I’d switch trailers out, at ARC’s dock, in the pre-dawn hours, althought it was rarely, if ever at 4:30. I did try to be as quiet as possible, because I didn’t want to see us kicked out. And to my own benefit it was extra pay after my dedicated night run. When I had tractors without automatic running lights, I’d turn the headlights off, as to not bother the Stafford Crossing folks, too much. They had to be very tolerant people. Besides, I was a local guy, living 2.75 “crow miles” away.

Maybe you remember one winter a couple of our newer drivers “short” turned into ARC and hung the trailer on the snow bank, which entailed having to be towed off. I accompanied our safety director on those details. I usually took the hard way in…over Schoolhouse.

Freddie, it isn’t so much the weeee morning trucks coming and going. It’s the ones who sit idling, lights on or off and the Waste Company banging the dumpster on the back of the truck trying to get every bit of the sticking piece of gargbage out of the dumpster, which usually ends up on my lawn to some degree.
We are a very laid back quiet community, but there always comes a point and this is ours.Long live the farmland!
Thanks for being honest and trying to be quiet. I don’t think deliveries after 6:00 am are unreasonable.

I might be a little off topic here, Michael, but the word farmland, promps me. Being a newcomer to town, ha-ha, I knew the Hartmans, Zhiems, Millers, Marianis, Rivers, Kleinkes, Machs, Waldbiligs, Schramms, Mosalls on Blessing, Mr Amsler, the elder. I didn’t know the Blessings, but remember the farm under the hill on that nasty turn by the Normanskill. And lastly, I didn’t know Joe Sloope(not sure of the spelling), but I knew who he was because my dad and uncles did business with him. He bought one of my uncle’s old red ’50ish Chevy pickup, which eventually sat along side Russell Road for many years. Reads like a Who’s Who, doesn’t it? And that’s just the folks roughly in your neighborhood.